Carlsbad Caverns

Alien. Surreal. Mesmerizing. Fantastic. All of these adjectives, and many more, have been ascribed to the caverns hidden beneath the Chihuahuan desert near Carlsbad, New Mexico. I have travelled extensively (above ground I might add), but never have I seen anything remotely resembling the scenery that these caves have to offer. A step into the caverns is a step into another world.

This particular image shows a 25-foot-high stalagmite known as Crystal Spring Dome. It is located in the area of the caverns known as "The Big Room". As you can see, it is surrounded by overhead stalactites which, like giant daggers, appear as though they could come crashing down on unsuspecting tourists with lethal results. A walkway at the base of the dome helps to lend a sense of scale to this other-worldly landscape.